San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-11-30

Rivers was in n serious condition, ana be-
fore the six hours were up a horsemAn dashed
out OF camp and after q doctor II was Ute
Bill He could not stand by and hear Rivers
moan and see him toss back and forth in bed
IL was too much. lie wasn't used TO IL. The
doctor had TO make another trip-Bill said
Rivers was worse.
When the doctor had made an examination
OF his patient no declared the worst was
passed, and left Rivers sleeping quietly
under gentle narcotic.
All this time the girl had not released her
watch by the bedside, and she seemed 70 be
soothing away the delirium Of the fever in
gently passing her hands over the sick mans
temples Her eyes never left of their watch
Of every movement of the ''tenderfootsn face,
and Bill stood by wonderingly, casting fur
tive glance at the delicately featured face
bending over his pard's pillow, and trying to
solve the problem in his mind.
Hours passed, and finally, with long sigh,
Rivers opened his eyes and looked at Bill
leaning over the foot of the bed. Then bis
wandering attention was fixed on the anxious
face by his side. There was no glad cry Of
recognition-it was a mutual understanding.
All the warmth of his great love was ex-
pressed in the gently whispered name "Lil-
lian,n as he drew her face TO his. Resting her
head on his shoulders she told him Of the long
years Of waiting for tidings from him and
the hasty letter from Omaha, which she had
only received few days before. She had
left home, friends, everything and gone to
seek him in the wild west, she knew not
where, but she had found him And Bill
had disappeared.
A few days afterward one of the "pards"
gave up his claim to the little cabin, and the
minister said the ceremony which linked two
lives into a world Of their own.
Many and hearty were the rough congrat-
ulations. That evening the miners gathered
at the little home to say u word Of welcome
to the beautiful young bride Even II it
were spoken by big, rowdy miner like Bill,
there was genuine ring of manliness about
it, and made her feel quite at home In the
wild, picturesque spot so far from every
sign of civilization. As the men filed out
slowly Rivers conducted his girl wife to the
porch Of the rude cabin, and, standing close
by his side she sang one verse Of Home,
Sweet Home" The tender, sympathetic
voice fell on the still night air with q won
derful sweetness, and awakened many old
memories in the hearts Of the rough, coarse
miners gathered there.
Heads were uncovered, and there were
tears wiped hastily away as Bill led them
to the saloon. Was there rough talking
and coarse jests nowi No. As each man
raised his glass a solemn hush fell upon
the group, broken at last by Ute Bills voice.
1t was choked and unnatural
Boys" he said, 81 never he'd but one pard ;
but give him up to the best pard man
ever got. And III never hev another till
get one like his"
Bill set his glass down and walked away
abruptly 1t was not long until the saloon
was deserted and the camp hushed in the re-
pose of night.
After that Bill did not seem like his old
self He was quiet and solemn. He knew
what was the matter, but did not care to let
the boys know where the sunshine had fallen
on his rough heart and then so suddenly been
wept away.
The next spring came and the doctor made
another trip to the little cabin. When Ute
Bill went up the next day Rivers led him
into the dainty bedroom and gave him peep
at the tiny baby girl that had come that
night. The big rough hand closed tightly
over the one of more delicate mold that
was laid In his, and the two men understood
each other There were tears in Bills eyes
and an ache in his heart which no one but
Rivers should ever know as he turned silently
away.
The miners gathered again In the saloon to
drink to the health Of mother and child, and
hear Bill, now glowing with animation tell
about the baby and its queer ways, until they
all wanted to see the youngster A vote was
taken, and the camp was to be christened
after the baby, and Bill had forgotten to ask
her name. Away he went, and soon re-
turned. He looked sheepish, and finally came
forward and said:
"Boys, yer got me this time. They've
called her 'Utellar as near my name as they
could get, and it's my layout Whatu ye
hevr
The glasses clinked merrily, and Mr.. Bill
beamOd with happiness.
Not day passed that Bill did not visit the
cottage, and as the wee babe grew to q
toddling, Gsping girl, Bill was her chief SYM
pathizer, and the boys in camp at last called
him "Uncls Bill"
There's no harm in me lovin' her," he
said one day, as he stroked the curly brown
head nestled against his breast; ''the other
wasn't for me-" And Rivers glanced up
quickly at Bill, and then to his wife, who was
sitting by the doorway with her dainty
fingers busy in mending little frock.
at was before knewn-and Bill swallowed
the big lump rising in his throat, and tried to
go on, but his voice broke and he trembled in
the vain effort to suppress his emotion Ris-
.ng suddenly he left the cabin.
That was years ago The mining camp has
disappeared and only the lonely cottage